Touching Heart teaches children that it is never too early to be a philanthropist. Through its Kids on a Mission (KOAM) program, children work with adult coaches to plan and execute a fundraising event, 100% of whose proceeds benefit the cause they select. As part of the Schools on a Mission (SOAM) program, elementary school students meet weekly after school for eight weeks to practice kindness by making sandwiches and blankets to donate to homeless shelters. Middle and high school students join a year-long club that incorporates age-appropriate lessons about social issues and empowers them to take on solution-driven service and fundraising projects. In one year alone, children pack over 4,000 lunches for people experiencing homelessness and purchase backpacks and other school supplies for more than 3,000 children in foster care. Everyone can create meaningful change, including the youngest among us.

Headquarters: VA-Fairfax County

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Montgomery County; VA-Fairfax County; VA-Loudoun County; Internationally

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Population(s) Served: Not applicable


  • Number of children who have experienced the joy of giving through participation in a Touching Heart program:   3,000
  • Number of children in need who have been helped through Touching Heart's programs:   12,000
  • Total children impacted since Touching Heart was founded in 2010:   15,000

Awards & Recognition

-Touching Heart Founder, Helen Yi, featured in The Loudoun 100 Book, September 2017
-Finalist for Best of Reston Award 2017
-Nominated for two 2016 Benchmark Awards from Volunteer Fairfax, April 2016
-Kids on a Mission, Minecraft for a Mission appeared in Herndon Connection, February 2016
-Touching Heart Founder, Helen Yi, received the Sophistique Award for her humanitarian work, February 2016
-ABC Network, Harris’ Heroes feature, September 2015
-NBC Network feature, May 2015
-Nonprofit of the Year Award by Asian-American Business Chamber of Commerce, February 2015
-Viva Tysons Magazine, 2015
-Fox News Network “Beyond the Dream” segment, July 2014
-Fairfax County Corporate Volunteer Program Award, 2014

Press

  • No stories found

Budget (FY2016)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • The current budget for Touching Heart is: Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

If you like Touching Heart you might also like